Well, we have officially been voted off the island. The Houma command center made the decision to fill our spots with federal people, which leaves 14 of us without a job. Luckily, the company I am contracting under has also been working in other states, and I am one of the lucky six who is heading out tomorrow for another assignment. I will be arriving in Mobile, Alabama around noon tomorrow to get checked in and will start working with the International Bird Rescue Center immediately. We will be responding to calls of oiled wildlife, but the catch is - I will be working the swing shift from 4 - midnight. After 10+ days of being up at 4:30 am, it's going to be quite a change. I am tentatively scheduled to be stationed somewhere in Florida, but will get more details tomorrow.
I am very sad to be leaving Grand Isle and the operations here. We have become like a family, and it's painful to leave everyone, as well as this beautiful place, behind. There is talk that we may be back in a month or so, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I started this adventure to help with my home state of Louisiana, but at this point I am willing to go where I am needed. I had so much I wanted to photograph and share with everyone from Grand Isle, but the weather this week kept me mostly homebound. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend a trip to Grand Isle to do some fishing or relaxing on the beach (after the spill is over, of course). There are some amazing people down here that would show you a great time.
I will most likely start my first swing shift tomorrow night, so I doubt I will be able to update the blog. Hopefully by Monday I will be starting to adjust and can update everyone on what I will be doing in Florida.
Farewell, Grand Isle, it's been fun.
Keep up the good work, both blogging and biologizing.
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